Recently in International Law Category

A United Nations panel has issued an opinion declaring that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been 'arbitrarily detained' by the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom for the past five years. The Human Rights Council's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention recommended Assange's release, along with possible financial compensation, and you can read their full opinion below.

Assange has been accused of rape in Sweden, and was arrested by the UK in 2010. He has remained in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012, fearing extradition to the United States for revealing classified information via WikiLeaks.

Moments ago in Zurich, FIFA officials voted to retain controversial president Sepp Blatter. Three days ago, nine high-ranking FIFA officials (including the man many thought would succeed Blatter) were arrested along with five media company executives on a wide range of corruption charges that rocked soccer's governing body.

The charges are detailed in an extensive Department of Justice indictment filed in the Eastern District of New York. You can read all 160 pages listing racketeering, bribery, and wire fraud below. Here are some highlights:

The Obama Administration has vetoed a ban on imports of some Apple iPads and older iPhones — a rare move that undercuts a legal victory for smartphone rival Samsung.

U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman overruled a June decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) which banned imports of the iPhone 4 and some variations of the iPad 2.

Froman’s formal decision (attached below) to veto the ITC ban cited concerns about patent holders gaining “undue leverage” as well as potential harm to consumers and competitive conditions in the U.S. economy.

The action is the first time since 1987 that a presidential administration had vetoed an import ban ordered by the ITC, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The U.S . can lawfully kill an American citizen overseas if it determines the target is a "senior, operational leader" of al-Qaeda or an associated group and poses an imminent threat to the country, according to a Justice Department document published by NBC News.

The document defines "imminent threat" expansively, saying it does not have to be based on intelligence about a specific attack since such actions are being "continually" planned by al-Qaeda.

"In this context," it says, "imminence must incorporate considerations of the relevant window of opportunity" as well as possible collateral damage to civilians. The document also provides a legal rationale behind the Obama administration's use of drone strikes against al-Qaida suspects.

Exactly what constitutes an "imminent" threat is not specifically defined, however.

A federal magistrate judge has determined that Iran, Hezbollah, al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and the Taliban should pay the families of 9/11 victims over six billion dollars in damages for the injuries suffered during the September 11, 2001 attacks. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit received a default judgment against the defendants on December 22, 2011. The damage award is largely symbolic, however, since it will be nearly impossible to recover any funds from the defendants.

The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a lower court's denial of
Afghanistan's motion to dismiss a complaint brought by the husband of a
victim of the September 11th attacks. The court found that the
plaintiff's suit was properly considered under the noncommercial tort
exception to foreign sovereign immunity, but remanded the case back to
the lower court to resolve factual issues concerning Afghanistan's
involvement with the 9/11 attacks.

The United States has charged two Iranian citizens with plotting the
assassination of the Saudi ambassador to the United States. In
addition, the US government alleges that elements of the Iranian
government directed the plot, which involved a planned explosive attack
on the ambassador while in the territory of the United States.

Ten members of the United States House of Representatives have filed a
lawsuit against President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert
Gates seeking to end the United States' involvement in the Libya
conflict. The Representatives argue in the complaint that the US
participation in the Libya campaign violates the US Constitution, the
War Powers Act and the North Atlantic Treaty.

Since his crime spree reads like a television drama, it should be no surprise that he was profiled on America's Most Wanted

In 2007, Matusiewicz told his ex-wife that he was taking their 3 young daughters to Disney World in Florida. Instead, he fled with them to Central America via Mexico, taking his elderly mother along for the ride in a 33-foot mobile home.